Basketball system with adjustable goal height having mechanical advantage

Abstract

Certain preferred embodiments of the present invention provide an improved adjustment system and method for raising and lowering a basketball backboard and goal using a telescoping assembly such as an extension and retraction cylinder. In some preferred embodiments, an actuator assembly is mounted to a midpoint of a lever arm and situated such that the extension or retraction of the actuator assembly causes a mechanically advantaged travel in the height adjustment structure for the goal assembly. As a preferred feature, the present invention provides a greater height adjustment distance in the backboard assembly for a reduced number of cranks compared to a direct connection between an actuator incorporated in or directly attached to an adjustment arm.

1. A basketball goal, comprising:
 a. a vertical support element; 
 b. a backboard assembly; 
 c. an adjustment structure adjustably mounting said backboard assembly to said support element; 
 d. said adjustment structure having a rear extension portion movable to control the height of said backboard assembly; 
 e. at least one adjustment arm extending downward from said rear extension portion; 
 f. at least one lever arm having a proximal end pivotally mounted adjacent said support element and having a distal end pivotally mounted to said adjustment arm; and, 
 g. an actuator mounted to said lever arm at a midpoint between said proximal end and said distal end, wherein operation of said actuator causes said lever arm to rotate and correspondingly adjust the height of said backboard assembly 
 h. a bracket assembly wherein said bracket assembly comprises a pair of side plates on opposing sides of said lever arm and wherein said midpoint where said actuator is mounted to said lever arm is concealed between said side plates. 
 
   
   
     2. The basketball goal of  claim 1 , wherein operation of said actuator on said lever arm causes a raising or lowering of said proximal end a movement distance greater than the movement distance of said midpoint. 
   
   
     3. The basketball goal of  claim 2 , wherein said adjustment structure comprises a parallelogram assembly between said backboard and said support element. 
   
   
     4. The basketball goal of  claim 3 , wherein said actuator is mounted to a bracket assembly secured to said support element. 
   
   
     5. The basketball goal of  claim 4 , wherein said actuator is pivotally mounted to said bracket assembly. 
   
   
     6. The basketball goal of  claim 5 , wherein said actuator is pivotally mounted to said lever arm. 
   
   
     7. The basketball goal of  claim 3 , wherein said actuator is an extension cylinder. 
   
   
     8. The basketball goal of  claim 7 , wherein said actuator comprises an upper portion and a lower portion and wherein said actuator is operable to adjust the relative extension of said upper portion to said lower portion. 
   
   
     9. The basketball goal of  claim 8 , comprising a worm gear connecting said upper portion to said lower portion. 
   
   
     10. The basketball goal of  claim 4 , wherein said proximal end of said lever arm is pivotally mounted to said side plates. 
   
   
     11. The basketball goal of  claim 1 , wherein said side plates are removably mourned to said support element. 
   
   
     12. The basketball goal of  claim 11 , wherein said actuator is mounted to said side plates in a manner to prevent removal of said side plates from said support element. 
   
   
     13. The basketball goal of  claim 11 , wherein said side plates each comprise an ear portion receivable in a support sleeve on said support element to removably mount said side plates to said support element. 
   
   
     14. The basketball goal of  claim 1 , comprising a pair of parallel adjustment arms extending downward from said adjustment structure and a pair of parallel lever arms, each lever arm having a proximal end pivotally mounted adjacent said support element and having a distal end pivotally mounted to one of said adjustment arms, and wherein said actuator is mounted to said lever arms at parallel midpoints between said proximal ends and said distal ends. 
   
   
     15. A basketball goal, comprising:
 a. a vertical support element; 
 b. a backboard assembly adjustably mounted to said vertical support element; 
 c. at least one lever arm having a proximal end secured adjacent said support element and having a distal end linked to said backboard assembly; and, 
 d. an actuator mounted to said lever arm at a midpoint between said proximal end and said distal end, wherein operation of said actuator causes the distal end of said lever arm to raise or lower and to correspondingly adjust the height of said linked backboard assembly 
 e. a bracket assembly wherein said bracket assembly comprises a pair of side plates on opposing sides of said lever arm and wherein said midpoint where said actuator is mounted to said lever arm is concealed between said side plates. 
 
   
   
     16. The basketball goal of  claim 15 , wherein said actuator comprises a proximal portion secured at a fixed height relative to said support element and a distal portion mounted to said midpoint. 
   
   
     17. The basketball goal of  claim 16 , wherein said proximal portion of said actuator is secured to a bracket assembly extending from said support element. 
   
   
     18. The basketball goal of  claim 17 , wherein said proximal portion of said actuator is pivotally mounted to said bracket assembly. 
   
   
     19. The basketball goal of  claim 16 , wherein operation of said actuator on said lever arm causes said proximal end to raise or lower a distance which is greater than the distance said midpoint is caused to raise or lower. 
   
   
     20. The basketball goal of  claim 19 , wherein said actuator comprises a rotatable handle for operating said actuator. 
   
   
     21. The basketball goal of  claim 20 , wherein said actuator comprises a worm gear and bearing plate mounted between said proximal portion and said distal portion, wherein said worm gear is driven by said rotatable handle. 
   
   
     22. The basketball goal of  claim 19 , wherein said actuator comprises an extension cylinder. 
   
   
     23. The basketball goal of  claim 15 , comprising a pair of parallel lever arms, each having a proximal end mounted adjacent said support element and having a distal end linked to said backboard assembly, and wherein said actuator is mounted to said lever arms at parallel midpoints between said proximal ends and said distal ends. 
   
   
     24. The basketball goal of  claim 23 , wherein side plates on a bracket assembly mounted on said support element cover said parallel midpoints through the range of motion of said lever arm. 
   
   
     25. The basketball goal of  claim 24 , wherein said proximal ends of said lever arms are pivotally mounted to said side plates. 
   
   
     26. A basketball goal, comprising:
 a. a vertical support element; 
 b. a backboard assembly adjustably mounted to said vertical support element; 
 c. at least one adjustment arm connected with and extending downward from said backboard assembly; 
 d. a lever arm controlling adjustment of said backboard assembly and defining a first lever arm length, wherein said first lever arm length is defined between a proximal end of said lever arm connected to said vertical support element and a distal end of said lever arm connected to said adjustment arm; and, 
 e. an actuator operably connected to said lever arm and controlling said lever arm over a second lever arm length, wherein said second lever arm length is less than said first lever arm length 
 f. a bracket assembly wherein said bracket assembly comprises a pair of side plates on opposing sides of said lever arm and wherein said midpoint where said actuator is mounted to said lever arm is concealed between said side plates. 
 
   
   
     27. The basketball goal of  claim 26 , wherein said lever arm is rotatably mounted to said support element. 
   
   
     28. The basketball goal of  claim 27 , wherein said actuator has a portion secured at a fixed height relative to said support element. 
   
   
     29. The basketball goal of  claim 28 , wherein said actuator is an extension cylinder.